Battery-electric coach revolution gets underway
Undoubtedly one of the most difficult parts of road transport to decarbonise is the coach market, which is reflected in there being just two such battery-electric models on the UK market. Both are from Yutong, with the larger of the pair being the tri-axle GTe14 as seen here.
While built in China, the GTe14 is otherwise an entirely western vehicle, with the latest examples including a Tesla-esque tablet as the dashboard binnacle. Over 600kWh of energy storage can be had, with a claimed range of over 300 miles; charging at 600kW is possible via twin CCS2 connections (and where sufficient power is available). Naturally, this all comes at a cost, but it is a clear indication that European coach manufacturers have a job-and-a-half in hand if they are to keep up over coming years.
Scottish start-up Ember is by far the biggest customer for battery-electric coaches in the UK so far. It began with the smaller TCe12 but has graduated to the GTe14, of which a large number are in service and on order.
Ember's business model is built entirely around zero-emission and, at least from what was seen here, that is delivering; this GTe14 in Dundee left with a full load bound for Edinburgh. It is SG24 UJJ.
Battery-electric coach revolution gets underway
Undoubtedly one of the most difficult parts of road transport to decarbonise is the coach market, which is reflected in there being just two such battery-electric models on the UK market. Both are from Yutong, with the larger of the pair being the tri-axle GTe14 as seen here.
While built in China, the GTe14 is otherwise an entirely western vehicle, with the latest examples including a Tesla-esque tablet as the dashboard binnacle. Over 600kWh of energy storage can be had, with a claimed range of over 300 miles; charging at 600kW is possible via twin CCS2 connections (and where sufficient power is available). Naturally, this all comes at a cost, but it is a clear indication that European coach manufacturers have a job-and-a-half in hand if they are to keep up over coming years.
Scottish start-up Ember is by far the biggest customer for battery-electric coaches in the UK so far. It began with the smaller TCe12 but has graduated to the GTe14, of which a large number are in service and on order.
Ember's business model is built entirely around zero-emission and, at least from what was seen here, that is delivering; this GTe14 in Dundee left with a full load bound for Edinburgh. It is SG24 UJJ.